Scraping the Clouds

We left Salida and headed for Glenwood Springs, which allowed a drive up and over Independence Pass. If it seems Ellen is smiling in all the photos, it simply indicates how excited she is at all the new sights and places she is experiencing. The sign says 12,095 feet, but my GPS unit claimed we were at 12,125 feet, so I'm not sure which to believe.



Beaver dams dominate the meadows for miles and miles on both sides of the pass and dozens of their dams are evident even as you drive by at 50 mph. The creek is obvious in this photo, but not seen is the huge wetlands surrounding the creek, handiwork of the local beavers.

Above treeline is a very delicate environment. In fact, it can take decades for plants to grow to very moderate heights, so walkways have been constructed at the pass and visitors are required to stay off the delicate tundra.

You really do feel as if you are scraping the sky way up here. One has to recall the Tower of Babel, though I don't know how one could get caught up in thinking one is high and mighty. Sights like this always remind me of how small and fragile humans are. It is a paradox how each of us is unique unto ourselves, and thus a significant addition to the earth, yet each of us is merely one of 12 billion who have ever lived on the planet, and hence as insignificant as a grain of sand in a desert. Interesting the thoughts one has while admiring panoramas such as this.